Biography of Simeon Van NortwickTompkins County, NY Biographies

Van Nortwick, Simeon, a pioneer, came from Monmouth county, N. J., in 1804, and settled on the farm now owned
by Sarah A. Van Nortwick, one and a half miles south of Peruville, in the town of Dryden. His wife, whose maiden
name was Rebecca Hendrickson, and the children Nellie, John, William, and Joanna, accompanied him. The country
at that time was very new, and one of the first things necessary after reaching their new home was for the pioneer
to go five miles (one and a half miles west of West Dryden) for fire, it being their nearest neighbor. The wife
of Simeon Van Nortwick died in 1817, after which he married Sarah Giles, widow of Benjamin Fulkerson, to whom were
born two children, twin daughters: Rebecca M., who died aged twenty one; and Sarah M., the wife of Rufus Lumbar,
who is still living in Iowa City, Ia. Simeon Van Nortwick died in 1842, aged seventy seven. His wife survived him
fifteen years, having died in 1857. William Van Nortwick was born April 10, 1798, being but six years old at the
time of their advent into Dryden. He succeeded his father as owner of the farm, now in the possession of his daughter,
Sarah A. In 1819 he married Sarah M., daughter of Joel George, who also came from New Jersey in the early years
of the century. She was born October 4, 1794. Six children were born to them: Mary E., born September 2, 1820,
who married Daniel F. Bills, of Dryden, she died in February, 1891; Elizabeth was born September 13, 1822. She
never married, and died in April, 1879; Clara was born October 13, 1824. She married George Mineah, of Dryden,
and is now a widow, living on the farm near her father's old home; Sarah A. was born April 8, 1827. She never married,
and now resides at the old homestead; Luana was born November 22, 1829. She married Rich Morgan, of Groton, who
died in 1801, after which she married Richard Morgan, of the same town, and is still living in Groton, Ellen V.
was born August 17, 1837, and married William H. Richardson. She is living in Freeville. William Van Nurtwick died
January 3, 1866, and his wife died February 16, 1874. The farm has never been out of the family in the ninety years
since it was first settled. William Van Nortwick was one of the progressive and energetic men of early Dryden,
a large land owner, a progressive and model farmer, and one of the few who enjoyed the distinction of being looked
up to by all for his sterling integrity and unflinching honor among his fellowmen.

From:
Landmarks of Tompkins County, New York
Including a History of Cornell University
Edited by: John H. Selkreg
D. Mason & Co., Publishers
Syracuse, N. Y. 1894